Status of Renewable Energy in Liberia

Transcription

1 Status of Renewable Energy in Liberia Augustus V. Goanue Principal Officer Prototype Rural and Renewable Energy Agency of Liberia Mobile:

2 Presentation Outline Background Renewable Energy Resource Potential Key Players and their Roles Results and Achievements Constraints Lessons Learned Conclusion

3 Background Global Workshop on Grid Connected Renewable Energy Total geographic area: 111,370 km 2 Total land area: 96,320 km 2 Coastline: 579 km Source: Ministry of Planning & Economic Affairs

4 Background Cont. Total Population Global Workshop on Grid Connected Renewable Energy Relevant Indicators Indicator Urban Population 38% Rural Population 62% Population Growth Rate 2.1% Value 3.48 Million GDP Per Capita (US$ and PPP$) % of Population With access to grid electricity <10 Current Power Generation by National Grid (diesel fuel) Current electricity tariff (National Grid) Current power generation from renewable sources (hydro & solar only) Source: Center for Sustainable Energy Technology 9.6 MW US$0.46 per kwh 4.1 MW

5 Renewable Energy Resource Potential Liberia is endowed with enormous renewable energy resources: Hydro Biomass Solar Wind

6 Hydro Potential Liberia has six major rivers, which drain about 66% of the country s water. Proven hydro power potential is in excess of 1,000 MW, out of which only 4MW is currently generated. Source: United Nations Humanitarian Information Center for Liberia, Map Catalog # LIB178

7 Solar Potential Radiation (kwh/m2/day) Solar Radiation on Horizontal Surface Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month Monthly solar radiation on horizontal surface is about 4 to 6 kwh/m 2 /day Total installed capacity is about 100kW Source: Solar Technology, Inc.

8 Biomass Potential Because Liberian vegetation is mainly used for tree-crop and food-crop production and forestry, woody biomass is the predominant biomass resource available.

9 Land Cover Global Workshop on Grid Connected Renewable Energy Source: Assessment of Biomass Resources in Liberia, NREL 2008

10 18,000 Biomass Energy Potential Energy production in GWh/yr 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 Crop Residues Forest Residues Potential Biomass Resourcess Source: Assessment of Biomass Resources in Liberia, NREL 2008

11 Wind Resource Potential There is currently no reliable national wind resource data for Liberia. Notwithstanding, observations along coastal and mountainous regions show good prospects for wind power development in the country.

12 Key Players and their Roles The Government Policy and regulatory framework to provide the enabling environment for inducing investments in the renewable energy sub-sector. Bi- and multi-lateral development partners Funding and technical support for developing local capacity to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy technology and service delivery. The private sector Investment in renewable energy technologies and service delivery. Civil Society/NGOs Advocacy, public awareness, training and related support to increase access to renewable energy technologies and services. End Users Provide the basis for market development and acceleration.

13 Renewable Energy service delivery linkages between key players in Liberia DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS PRIVATE SECTOR GOV T CIVIL SOCIETY/ NGOs END USERS

14 Results and Achievements A National Energy Policy (NEP), which proposed the establishment of a Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) as been formulated and approved by Cabinet. The establishment of a prototype RREA has been approved by the President to oversee and coordinate past and ongoing projects pending its establishment by statutes. The NEP promotes public-private partnership in renewable energy development and service delivery.

15 Results and Achievements Cont. About 100kW of Solar power systems of various sizes have been installed across the country. An assessment of biomass resources was conducted in 2008; Concluded that resources are more than enough to cover the country s annual electricity consumption of 297 GWh and oil consumption of 206 dam. The draft 2009 Energy law specifically addresses the deployment of renewable energy technologies and service delivery across the country.

16 Results and Achievements Cont. Feasibility study for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the damaged 64-MW Mount Coffee Hydro power plant near Monrovia has been completed. A power concession agreement between the Government and an independent power producer (Buchanan Renewable Energy) for the installation of a 35-MW biomass power plant has been signed.

17 Constraints Limited human and institutional capacity; High initial costs and lack of financing mechanism for project developers, entrepreneurs, and consumers; Low level of awareness and understanding of the applications and benefits of renewable energy technologies amongst policy/decision makers, private sector, and the consuming public;

18 Constraints Cont. Inadequate information on renewable energy technologies and resource potential; High transaction costs due to lack of local market for equipment and other products; and Insufficient information on demonstrated models for replication and scale-up locally.

19 Lessons Learned Public sector and donor resources remain crucial to stimulating investment in renewable energy technologies and facilitating scale-up and commercialization. Renewable energy technologies foster the development of home-grown energy resources that demonstrate clear cost advantage without relying on oil imports. The banking/financial sector is reluctant to finance renewable energy enterprises and investment projects because of their high up-front costs and slow returns on investment.

20 Conclusion One of the four objectives of the Government of Liberia within the framework of the National Energy Policy is universal access. This objective can only be achieved through increased investment in the deployment of renewable energy technologies across the country.

21 THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!!! QUESTIONS?